Train Frankfurt to Zurich Hbf

In the first place, Swiss Rail (www.sbb.ch) shows the fare direct from Zürich HB to Zürich Flughafen as 3,20 CHF, about $3.50, not $74! For mid-April, I found some connections by ICE from Frankfurt Hbf to Zuerich HB changing trains to Zuerich Flughafen in just over 4 hours. With advance purchase, you can get tickets online from German Rail for as low as €39/p, all the way through. Why aren't there direct flights from Frankfurt to the Zuerich airport? Just like you can't fly from New York to a small airport in Washington state (eg Yakima) without changing planes at SeaTac. The railroads in Europe run a hub and spoke system and Zuerich HB is the hub (although I did find a train from Basel to the airport without a stop in Zuerich HB, but it comes in to the airport from a different direction). BTW, where are you getting ICE 277 going from Frankfurt to Zuerich? According to the Bahn, it starts in Berlin, then goes through Frankfurt Hbf to Basel, Bern, and Interlaken.

You're not using the infamous RailEurope for your information by any chance are you? Using the Bahn, as per, I found the first 2 go straight through, for €79 for an advance fare next week, full fare just over €100. The next few requires one or 2 connections. I didn't bother to check every one of the trains until I got to the 277. I suggest being patient with the Bahn as the train originates in Germany so you can get an good fare.

"I didn't bother to check every one of the trains until I got to the 277." I didn't either, but I figured any ICE from Frankfurt to Switzerland would go up the Rhein with a stop in Freiburg, so I checked the schedule for "Freiburg(Breisgau) Hbf" and found it at 16:59. By unchecking all but ICE, there are only a handful of trains/hour to check. I used Freiburg because there would be a lot fewer trains than from Frankfurt Hbf. Only then I realize that you can use any town the train stops in and put "277" in the train number box, and you don't have to search through a list.

Thanks for the information from all. I'm using the Bahn.de site only. Following the notes given, I still can only go to the Zurich airport, it won't even let you enter Zurich Hbf. All the routes I see involve going to the airport, then transferring into the city to the Hbf, or to Basel and transferring. However, one of the routes (the one that came up as 277) does go to the Hbf direct THEN to the airport. But you have to pay for the airport leg, it won't let you only the first leg. So, there is a train that goes direct from Frankfurt to the Zurich Hbf, but it won't let you take it unless you purchase the extra leg to the airport. I want to go direct to the Hbf as my daughter lives five blocks from the Hbf. I appreciate your patience on this one. I want the train instead of flying because we are carrying a wedding dress for our second daughter, who is getting married in London; it's easier to carry it on the train.
Lee, I've often seen your expert postings, and am impressed by your research in helping people along! I've been using Bahn.de for over 10 years but never encountered this oddity before.

The name of the town is actually Zürich (note the ü). I don't know why they accept Zurich airport, maybe because an airport is an international place and Zurich is the international spelling. Anyway, if you put in Zuerich it will give you the option of Zürich HB, which is the Hauptbahnhof. Also, the Germans use Hbf as an abbreviation for Hauptbahnhof, but the Swiss use HB. If you type in Zurich Hbf it doesn't know what you mean, but if you just type in zurich hb, it should give you the option of Zürich HB. Hope that helps.

Dennis, With Lee's help you've probably already found what you're looking for, but here it is just in case you still need it. According to bahn.de, direct trains from Frankfurt(Main)Hbf to Zuerich Hbf depart at 05:56, 6:50, 12:05, 14:05, 16:05, and 18:05. The 06:05 train is an IC train. The rest are ICEs.

Lee, you're the BEST! Thanks!!!